He studied the screen and scowled.
“You know them?”
“Unfortunately, I do. They’re enforcers for my father.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
WHY WOULDN’T HISpast die and stay buried? He glared at the screen as the faces of the two men burned into his memory. These jokers were the two worst offenders in his mind. They acted like friends but stabbed him in the back the moment his father flicked a glance at them or issued a punishment order.
Where Elias had his hand on her shoulder, Iona rested her hand on top of his. “That’s not what you expected, is it?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. My father always vowed to keep me under his thumb while he trained me to take over the Reckoners. This is exactly the stunt he would pull when I was growing up, punishing me to strengthen me, he claimed. I saw him as a bully back then, and my opinion hasn’t changed.”
Seth’s brow rose. “Have his men popped up like this before during your American missions?”
Elias gave a slight nod. “Twice before.”
“Did you talk to them or just boot them out the door before they blew your cover?”
His lips curved. Yep, his unit leader knew him very well. “I asked them politely to deliver a message to Dad.”
“Right. How many injuries did they have?”
“Several.” So many that he’d lost count. Their own fault, though. They’d thrown the first punches and called them a message from his father.
“Did you leave them alive?” Teagan asked.
“Can’t deliver a verbal message if you’re dead.”
She grinned. “Wish I could have heard your father’s response.”
Elias shook his head. “It would have burned your ears, T. Trust me, hearing about it third hand is better for everyone.”
“What does this mean?” Iona asked. “We’re here on an undercover op, and two of your father’s enforcers show up. He knows where you are.”
Man, this was such a mess. Why couldn’t his father leave him alone? “I would love to say there’s no way Dad knows we’re embedded with Blackthorn. However, I learned a long time ago to expect the worst where he’s concerned. I believe he knows we’re here. I doubt he knows why, but he knows of our presence.”
“If your father tells Dutch and company who we are, we’re toast.”
He inclined his head in agreement. He couldn’t argue with her conclusion. Elias had hoped to escape his father’s eagle eye for the time this mission took to close. That hope was in vain. “We need to tell Maddox and Zane.”
Seth looked at him. “Stay put.” He strode out of the room and returned with his computer.
“Everything will work out, Elias,” Teagan said. “You’ll see.”
Although he appreciated her sympathy, the effort was wasted on him. He felt a little like Eeyore with a rain cloud over his head. Like the cartoon character, his luck always seemed to be bad wherever he went. “You can’t fix this, Teagan.”
Noah snorted. “Who can? None of us have control over who contributed to our DNA, buddy.”
Seth booted up his laptop. A couple of minutes later, the tech and communications guru’s face appeared on screen.
“What’s up?” Zane asked.
“We’ve got a lead. Can you patch in the boss?”
“Hold.” Soon, the screen split to show Zane’s and Maddox’s faces.
“Zane said you needed to talk.”
